Outbreak - Partner mode

[Majigor]

Just got a few questions about playing partner mode with the expansion, and it is mainly due to the text of the cards seemingly not supporting partner mode in the same way that the alliance cards do.

Firstly, does only the main character develop an infection level? I assumed this would be the case because there are only 3 infected characters. If this is indeed correct, then does the partner immediately get removed from play if the main becomes the infected? I got even more confused when I read Jill's second effect because it infers that partners have infection levels too? (more on this later)

Secondly, do the following cards affect only the main character when exploring, or both?
- Rock Trap (10 damage per action in play area)
- Laser Trap (20 damage per card type in play area)
- Wasp (20 damage to exploring character when revealed)

I ask because the alliance cards tend to say 'Character(s)' but the outbreak ones say 'Character' only, and I was not sure if this meant it only affects the character you chose to lead during the explore, or if the producers simply forgot to account for the possibility of partner mode when printing them. (The game is relies on a lot of very specific wording after all).

Thirdly, and building upon my last question, how does Kevlar Jacket work specifically?
Does it attach to the character you chose as leading character? If this is true, and you lead with your partner, then does it replace one of the two player-attached cards, or does it count as a bonus attachment until it gets used up? Or does it affect both characters, therefore negating shared damage from the cards I mentioned in my second questions, assuming those cards do indeed inflict damage to both characters?

Fourthly, and I think I will probably already know the answer to this one by the time the previous ones are answered but, can someone clarify Jill (Outbreak) for me? Basically, is she only really usable as a main? I assumed that her first effect was only usable if she is a main because it specifies her name, and I have been playing with the assumption that only main's develop infections. Furthermore, does that mean that if she is a partner then her second effect will mean you are constantly immune to attacks from infected players because partner's do not have infection levels and her ability specifies 'you and jill', or have I misunderstood how infection works in partner mode?

Finally... Can anyone confirm if this thread is going to be updated to include explanations for the abilities of all the outbreak characters?:
http://www.bandaicg.com/residentevil...pdated-5-24-11)

Thanks for sifting through this hefty post! I hope my questions are able to help others too.

[ShakeZoola]

The main reason you are bumping into these problems is due to the fact that outbreak was meant to be played with solo characters...not partners. Partner mode wasnt forgotten, outbreak was simply designed to be used without partners. Having said that I have never run an outbreak game with partners but Ill see if I can still try to help you out. If anyone else has played with partners and contradicts me then go with what they have said.

1. I would assume only the main develops an infection level...there arent enough cards to support mulitple infections on a single player. If your main becomes infected then yes I would say you lose your partner...they probably got surprised and eaten.

2. All of those cards affect both as both characters are exploring...one is simply taking the lead your secondary is still exploring.

3. I have always attached yellow herbs to the character who lead the explore and if a partner I have never had it count for the attachment limit (though officially that is wrong). So I would say you could attach the kevlar and still keep your 2 basic attachments...but if you wanna play completely legally the kevlar would go to your main.

4. Once again infection and partner mode were never meant to be played together. Based on Jills text I would say she could only really be used as a main because only a main could develop infection. Also, if she has an infection level you can still take damage from infected character attacks...your partners lack of infection level is irrelevant.

Hope it helps...partners mucks up this mode a bit. Besides the baddies in the outbreak mansion arent really all that strong compared to some other mansions. Partner mode would be a little overkill in there in my opinion.

Good luck and have fun!

[Majigor]

Firstly, thanks for your reply. I was basically thinking everything you said but just wanted the clarification. One thing though:

4. Once again infection and partner mode were never meant to be played together. Based on Jills text I would say she could only really be used as a main because only a main could develop infection. Also, if she has an infection level you can still take damage from infected character attacks...your partners lack of infection level is irrelevant.

There were two things that threw me and made me think partner mode was a possibility with infection mode. The first being Jill's card because her second ability says 'While Jill's infection level is 0, you and Jill cannot be affected by any infection effects'. It seems odd for it to say 'you' unless it is referring to your main and Jill is the partner. It also seems odd for it to say this if partner mode and infection mode aren't meant to be paired.

The second thing were the present scenarios. When paired with alliance, the preset scenarios include cards like injection. This wouldn't be needed if you were not applying infection levels during partner mode.

[kunonabi]

my crew has been running partners and outbreak at the same time since we got the new set. We find that the game just works much better with the additions as the base game is a little meh without them. Infections promote exploring while not being as lopsided as mercs and partners just makes more of the cast viable. This is especially true with characters like S.T.A.R.S Jill who would be completely useless without infection or playing Josh Stone without partners.

We have infection only affect the main character and when a player is turned the partner and items attached to him are removed instead of being placed in the zombie deck. We never thought of the kevlar issue as we always attached yellow herbs and the jacket to the main character. We'll have to discuss that next time we play.

[WailingJennings]

All these questions have been addressed in the various faqs.

1. Infections essentially only affect your main character. Then your partner just dies if you become a zombie. Jill works as either your main or a partner.

2. Attachable mansion items alway just attach to your main character.

3. Any cards that damage a character will damage both of your characters. Hunter also affects both (and is truly brutal).

4. An infected player chooses when they attack to damage either the lead or partner character.